James Olszewski sends a method for masking text in an AutoCAD dimension object.

"While there have been other background mask tips (including my own) submitted before, none solve the problem of background masking dimension text. "Even if you text edit dimension text, right clicking does not provide the option of background masking the text, which can be annoying and cause me to allow the text to be moved without a leader line, or have to move the dimension line, etc."

He shared the following solution:

Highlight the dimension and right click to Properties.

Under Text, the first item is Fill Color, which typically says None.

Toggle down and select Background.

"Works great!"

NOTES FROM CADALYST TIP PATROL: What good is a drawing if you can’t read the dimensions on it? This Fill Color setting in Dimensions works just like the background mask in text; it just has a different name. Just make sure the objects you want the text to mask are under your text/dimension according to the object’s draw order.

Average Rating:

4.4

User comments

Comment by Herter,Randy

Posted on 2009-07-13 13:56:14

this is a great tip but it is not only on the dimensions. you can use this
option on any multi line text and multi leader strings

Comment by McSwain,R.K.

Posted on 2009-07-13 13:57:47

Nice tip.

Comment by Morse,Dave

Posted on 2009-07-13 17:22:56

This is a great tip. I have used this on my most recent projects. The only
caviat is to be aware of previous versions, there is some compatability
issues. We worked with an Architect who was on a previous version and had
to work some kinks out. Also, check to make sure that pdf's don't mask it
black. Ours was fine, but theirs wasn't.

Comment by Bacchus,Charlene

Posted on 2009-07-13 17:28:44

When I do this the mask plots as a shaded area. Is there a setting I'm
missing?

Comment by Fayfar,Stan

Posted on 2009-07-13 19:03:16

James, you just made my day! I've been adding a request to the AUGI
wishlist for a couple of years now to get a mask for dimension text. I
tried it with 2010 and it works great. In fact, I edited my dimstyles
using DDIM and set the styles to use "background" as the text fill, saved
it and then all of my dimensions now "break" those nasty lines that run
through my dim text. WICKED COOL!!!